The Authority of the Talmud in Judaism

Description:Both classical and modern-day Judaism gives precedence to the Talmud more than the Torah and other books of the Old Testament. The article establishes the central role and authority of Talmud from standard Jewish and secular sources.

There is a misconception about Judaism common among
Christians and Muslims. This is the misleading idea that Judaism is a ‘biblical
religion’; that the Old Testament has in Judaism the same central place and
legal authority which the Bible has for Protestant or even Catholic
Christianity. The legal interpretation of sacred texts is rigidly fixed in
Judaism - but by the Talmud, rather than by the Bible itself (Shahak 1994). The
supremacy of the Talmud over the Bible may be seen in the case of the black
Ethiopian Jews. Ethiopians are very knowledgeable of the Old Testament. However,
their religion is so ancient that it pre-dates the Talmud, of which the
Ethiopians have no knowledge. The New York Times wrote, “The problem is that
Ethiopian Jewish tradition goes no further than the Bible or Torah; the later
Talmud and other commentaries that form the basis of modern traditions never
came their way.”[1] Because they are not versed in Talmudic
tradition, the black Ethiopian Jews are discriminated against and have been
forbidden to perform marriages, funerals and other services in the Israeli
state. It is the natural consequence of Jewish belief of considering the
Talmud superior to the Torah. The Talmud states,

Erubin 21b (Soncino edition): “My son, be more careful
in the observance of the words of the Scribes than in the words of the Torah.”

Rabbi Adin Even Israel Steinsaltz is the founder of the
Israel Institute for Talmudic Publications, and has enjoyed the backing of
Israeli presidents and prime ministers; he is a recipient of Israel’s highest civilian honor, the Israel Prize. He is currently translating the Talmud
into English, French, and Russian. He writes,

“If the Bible is the cornerstone of Judaism, then the
Talmud is the central pillar, soaring up from the foundations and supporting
the entire spiritual and intellectual edifice. In many ways the Talmud is the
most important book in Jewish culture, the backbone of creativity and of
national life. No other work has had a comparable influence on the theory and
practice of Jewish life, shaping spiritual content and serving as a guide to
conduct.”[2]

“Historically speaking, the Talmud is the central pillar
of Jewish culture. This culture is many faceted, but each of its numerous
aspects is connected in some way with the Talmud. This is true not only of the
literature that deals directly with the interpretation or continuation of the
Talmud, but also of all other types of Jewish creativity.”[3]

The importance of the Talmud and its authority can be
understood by what the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia states,

“The Talmud is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable
literary productions of all times. It is an encyclopedia covering the whole
scene of human life. It is almost impossible to convey to one who has not
spent years in the study of this complex work an idea of its true nature, as
even the most exact translations cannot catch the inner spirit of the Talmud …
As a repository of the Oral Law, the Talmud’s authority is regarded as divine
by Orthodox Jews, and hence it is held to be binding and immutable. Conservative
and Reform Jews, however, do not recognize the absolute binding power of the
Talmud, although they acknowledge the great part it has played in determining
Jewish religious ideas and observances.”[4]

Herman Wouk is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of eleven
novels, three plays, and two works of nonfiction. In his book, This is My God;
the Jewish Way of Life, serialized in the New York Herald-Tribune in 1959, he
wrote:

“The Talmud is to this day the circulating heart’s blood
of the Jewish religion. Whatever laws, customs or ceremonies we observe —
whether we are Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or merely spasmodic
sentimentalists — we follow the Talmud. It is our common law.”[5]

Role of Talmud in Contemporary Judaism

The Talmud is not an ancient document with no relevance
to modern Judaism. On the contrary, Encyclopedia Britannica tells us that with
the rebirth of a Jewish national state since 1948 and the revival of Jewish
culture, the Talmud has achieved renewed importance. Orthodox Judaism has
always focused upon its study and has believed it to be the absolute religious
authority. It has become one of the aims of religious (Orthodox) Jews there to
establish the law of Talmud as the general law of the state. Aside from Israel, the legal system described above has continued to function down to the present day
in Jewish communities all over the world. The jurisdiction of rabbinic courts
is voluntarily accepted by Orthodox Jews. These courts continue to exert
authority, especially in the areas of family and dietary law, the synagogue,
and the organization of charity and social activity. Furthermore, Conservative
Judaism, too, has always been committed to the Talmud. Thus, a network of day
schools and higher institutions of learning in which the Talmud occupies a
major role in the curriculum has been established. Scores of young Conservative
Jews now search in the Talmud for answers to their crucial problems.[6]

Olayinka

Netherlands, The
30 Jun 2007 08:48 AM

I agree entirely with this article. I was also under the misconceptions mentioned in the article about the source of Jewish traditions and beliefs. A Jewish acquaintance expressed the same views as herein to me just a few hours ago....Well done. Well researched. More grease...

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